From: Bridget Collier, Associate Provost for Equal Opportunity Programs

Subject: Equal Opportunity Programs Updates

Date: October 7, 2021

As Provost Lee referenced in a recent message to the campus community, the University of Chicago’s Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP) has launched the UChicago Center for Awareness, Resolution, Education, and Support (UChicago CARES), which works to prevent and address all forms of harassment, discrimination, and/or sexual misconduct. Additionally, EOP has realigned resources under a new area, Equal Opportunity & Access, which includes the Office for Military-affiliated Communities (OMAC), Access UChicago Now (AUN), and the coordination of the University’s Affirmative Action (AA) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) activities. Both UChicago CARES and Equal Opportunity & Access are housed within EOP.

These changes resulted from analyzing the findings of a needs assessment conducted during the 2020–2021 academic year that included input from faculty, students, and staff, along with the 2019 Association of American Universities Climate Survey results and the report and recommendations from the AUN coalition. We aim to increase the visibility, capacity, and awareness of the distinct resources offered by EOP while enhancing our efforts to meet the University’s compliance obligations and the needs of the campus community.

EOP’s realignment includes some staffing updates, which became effective October 1:

• Elizabeth Honig accepted the role of Executive Director of UChicago CARES and Senior Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Liz will direct institutional-wide strategic planning related to the development and implementation of comprehensive approaches to the provision and assessment of prevention, support, resources, and resolution services for individuals who experience discrimination, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct. She will also serve as my primary designee for matters under the related non-discrimination policies. Liz most recently served as EOP’s Director of the Office for Access and Equity, where she co-created and led AUN, and led the creation of resolution alternatives to the investigative process under the non-discrimination policies. EOP’s Director for Prevention Education and Outreach (Vickie Sides), Director for the Office for Sexual Misconduct Support and Resources (Renae DeSautel), and Director for Resolution Services (search underway) will report to Liz.

• Scott Velasquez accepted the role of Executive Director for Equal Opportunity & Access, Deputy ADA/504 Coordinator, and Deputy Affirmative Action Officer. Scott will lead the University’s annual Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) and related EEO activities, and will serve as my primary designee for matters related to AA/EEO and ADA/504. He most recently served as EOP’s Director of the Office for Affirmative Action and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, leading major initiatives including the launch of OMAC, and furthering efforts to create infrastructure and documentation for the production of the AAP and related search processes. EOP’s Director of OMAC (Terrell Odom), Director for Access UChicago (search underway), and Associate Director for Equal Opportunity (Mitchell Kittlaus) will report to Scott.

Please join me in congratulating Liz and Scott on their new positions and thanking them for their ongoing service to the University. If you have any questions about EOP’s reorganization, please let me know. Thank you for your ongoing support of and partnership with EOP.